I like to see up close what I'm buying (to ask questions if need be), so internet shopping is not really my thing... though I have bought software on the net, obviously.... Stardock and Winstep gear... and Win Vista x64 a couple of years back.

I have mine custom built, no Dell's or HP's or Compaq's for me.

Same here... would never, ever have a proprietry brand PC... not in this lifetime or the next.  In fact, I like to get the parts and build my own, not that I'm an expert or anything, but I am getting better at it every time.  My first build took several hours of trial and error before I got it downpat, and now I can assemble a rig inside two hours...  if Murphy's law don't kick in, that is.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh yes, Murphy will get you every time! 

mine is also custom built but that doesnt stop me wanting even more bits in the pc  lol

every two or three months, i add to or replace something in my rig. i think the next item will be an ssd. i've been doing some research on them for a few weeks and have narrowed it down to 4 models. formatting and reinstalling everything is not something i look forward to doing but since i do it every 4 months, i'm used to it. the image i made after the last format won't work since there's no way i'll be able to get all that stuff on the ssd. i need to get new tires for the car and replace a front suspension piece but after those are dealt with, a new ssd will be ordered. well, i need to get a new chair since the back on the one i'm sitting in broke last night while kicking back and watching monday's episode of 24. oh well! there's another 150 to 200 down the drain.

Same here!  I was going to order one about 4 - 5 weeks ago, but other priorities reared their ugly heads and no new toy for me.  Well that's not exactly true... I got a new petrol trimmer cos my old one went guts up  Anyhow, I used it and now the novelty effect has worn off.... so next up it's summat fer me rig.

Oh yeah, almost forgot... went a got me a new Thermaltake case a couple of weeks back... was bored shitless and the deal was too good to refuse.  Regular RRP is 169.95 AUD... I got mine for $90.

Didn't exactly need one, as in the old one is still working well, but I picked mrs starkers up a new microwave on Friday... it has convection cooking and a grill function all for $119 AUD, not the mention the stainless steel finish... NICE!!!!  Seeing as the old one is in perfect working order (despite being about 11 years old), I gave it to my nephew, who doesn't get a lot of money and is just starting out in a place of his own... which I think may have been the incentive to go splurge on an upgrade for Shaunna.

but I picked mrs starkers up a new microwave

lol   starkers that made me smile, a new toy for you and a new practical thing for mrs starkers  

Ah yes, but mrs starkers wanted one!  And I got her one with more functions than she originally had on her wish list.  This one has a heating element in the rear and it can be used as a griller oven as well as convection... and she does love to cook, so why not get her some decent tools for the job.

Oh, and mrs starkers has a pretty decent PC that does all that she needs it for... an AMD dual core @ 3.4ghz; 4gb of RAM; a 9800GTX @ 1gb and Win 7 Home Premium x64... plus she has a Compaq laptop as well.

glad to hear u are looking after mrs starkers so well

I have to... nobody else would put up with me.

Seriously, I've always been that way.  If my lady wants or needs something (and I can afford it), she will get it.  Besides, her first husband was quite the opposite and sometimes (more often than not) would make her take stuff they needed back to the store to be refunded, so I figure she has seen more than enough deprivation. 

I will go with Shaunna to the supermarket to help with the shopping... he went along to ensure she didn't spend more than he thought was right, so often essential items were put back on the shelf, and when it was all done he would make her carry it all out to the car... even when she was pregnant.  We're by no means well off, but with sensible shopping, budgeting, we get all that we need and a few extras every now and then as well.